Both sides rest in Cahill trial, jury to get case by Tuesday

Friday

Nov 30, 2012 at 12:01 AMNov 30, 2012 at 3:21 AM

Both sides have rested in the corruption trial of former State Treasurer Timothy Cahill. Cahill was cross examined by the prosecution on Friday. He was on the stand all day Thursday testifying in his own defense.

Jack Encarnacao

Both sides have rested in the corruption trial of former State Treasurer Timothy Cahill.

Cahill was cross examined by the prosecution on Friday. He was on the stand all day Thursday testifying in his own defense.

Cahill is charged with gaining an unwarranted privilege from the Lottery ads, a violation of state ethics law. He is also charged with a government purchasing violation for allegedly masking the true intent of the $1.5 million Lottery ad campaign, which trumpeted the management of the Lottery and the money it provides to cities and towns.

Cahill acknowledged concerns from Lottery officials that the ads would lead to criticism that there was improper collusion with Cahill’s gubernatorial campaign. Cahill said his response was that he was just as likely to be criticized for not responding to the attack ads.

“Everyone always wants to criticize a politician’s motives when they do something, good or bad,” Cahill said. “And I was used to that, all the way through my career, from the city council all the way up. I remember saying to (Lottery chief of staff Al Grazioso) that whatever I do, I’ll be criticized for it, and I just want to make sure that we do the right thing by the Lottery,” he testified on Thursday.

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Jack Encarnacao may be reached at jencarnacao@ledger.com.

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